Chapter 95: The Technique of an Idol Who Never Fails

I checked YouTube on my phone.

The fans now knew that this song was a gift to them, so there were no negative reactions at all.

Whether in Korean or English, everyone was crying, and among them, some people managed to find their composure and evaluate the song.

[Even if I’m not a Skipper, I have top-notch ears, and this is good.]

[↳Right? The song is so well-made. T_T_T_T]

[↳Even without being a fan, it seems like a song I can listen to comfortably.]

[↳After watching the concept trailer, the music video will definitely be great too.]

[This title is so overwhelming, I want to describe it more elegantly, but I just like it so much. What should I do with my reading comprehension?]

[↳Why can’t I edit it? hahaha]

[↳I can’t believe I wrote this. hahaha]

[How can I wait until 1 PM on the 29th? T_T_T_T]

[Someone, please knock me out.]

The fans' reactions were good. Just knowing that made me feel somewhat relieved.

After checking the initial comments, I returned to the shooting site.

This time, the concept photos had a different atmosphere from before, so it wasn’t like the staff were giving us their usual enthusiastic praise.

Fortunately, if I heard the staff praising me while I was trying my best to look fatal in a medieval ballroom filled with antique furniture, I might have run away. I’m not quite a pro yet. Hehe.

Still, I had become a bit more familiar with shooting after doing a photo shoot. Although, I’m still not used to close-ups where the camera is right in front of my nose...

The costumes, the concept, everything was unfamiliar. I asked the staff if the fans would really like this, and the female staff members all assured me they would. Since they are pros, I decided to trust them.

* * *

A comeback after five years. Many of Big Blue’s fans, who were students back then, had now become adults.

Among them, @19940808, a fan of Lee Junhee, had just started her career in society.

Last year, when she was preparing for a job, she would have cleared her schedule as soon as she heard the comeback news and waited eagerly. But this time, she didn’t.

[Whatever the concept, just release it.]

[I won’t judge.]

[Just release it. T_T_T_T_T]

Despite such reactions from the fans, @19940808, for the first time in a while, kept her account open.

However, as a rookie in society, her day was so tiring that she fell asleep before waiting for the highlight medley to be released at 12 PM. When she was younger, she couldn’t understand why adult fans couldn’t wait until 12 PM to go to sleep, but now she understood.

The next morning, @19940808 was able to check the highlight medley released the previous day while on the subway to work.

This time, Big Blue’s single contained two songs: one was the title track and a new song, and the other was a cover of a Japanese title track that Big Blue’s fans had long requested.

As soon as the cover song ended, the screen, which had gone dark, brightened again, showing the title "Let's Meet This Year." Then, a scene of Lee Junhee sending a text message in the studio appeared.

[Got the song, looking for members to join.]

Soon, the other members were shown looking at their phones one by one. The sight of all five members in the same video after so long made her feel choked up. The members then greeted the camera.

-Skippers, we’ll see you soon!

-I missed you.

-I’ll run to you right away!

-Let’s meet. Now.

The members' words echoed, and the screen brightened to show the members recording in the studio. Then, the chorus part was heard.

[Let’s go to the sea (let’s go) even if we become strangers in a foreign place.]

[With you, holding your hand, we can go anywhere.]

Now the leader, Choi Jungmin, and Daniel were 34 years old. The fans had expected a more mature atmosphere for the title track, but the actual song released was closer to the vibe of their debut track.

Feeling a nostalgic and warm atmosphere in the unexpected title track, @19940808 felt choked up while standing on the subway.

That night, @19940808, unlike the previous night, fought off the overwhelming sleepiness and waited for 12 PM.

At 12 PM that day.

The music video teaser was released.

It showed the members sitting in a store selling T-shirts that surfers might wear, a cafe, or a home, writing letters and putting them in a mailbox.

Then, someone’s hand opened the letter.

[Skipper, tell me where you want to go. I’ll follow you anywhere!]

The song was a message to the fans.

@19940808 felt comforted by this fact.

* * *

The long-awaited release of the music.

Not only the fans but also the members of Big Blue couldn’t hide their excitement.

At the time of the music release, the members of Big Blue were moving to the performance venue for a pre-recorded show.

As soon as all the members gathered in the waiting room, Lee Junhee entered and, seeing the seniors rush to him like predators, immediately headed for a chair.

“I saw you a few days ago. Let’s skip the greetings.”

Choi Jungmin, feeling a bit hurt, said,

“Other teams’ juniors ask about their seniors’ well-being first, but why is our junior so cold? He never contacts us first. Doesn’t he even wonder if his seniors are alive or dead?”

“I need to read the script, so be quiet.”

Lee Junhee said coldly and opened his script. Although his eyes were on the script, he sighed, knowing the members were sneaking up to play pranks.

“Hey, junior.”

“Did you see me and get scared?”

“...How can these guys still act like this even in their thirties?”

Lee Junhee knew that no matter what he said, they would stick around until he wanted them to leave, so he focused on the script, leaving the members be. After all, he was the junior, so he had no choice.

As they waited for the music release in the waiting room, the members chatted about their recent lives as if it were nothing.

The closer the release time got, the noisier the members became. Lee Junhee realized they were nervous about meeting the fans on stage after so long.

Seeing the members still nervous and excited about showing new songs to the fans, Lee Junhee felt relieved.

They had met in their mid-teens and been closer than family during their active years, but not seeing each other often for a while made it hard to know what they were thinking.

He also wondered if he had brought them this far by being too confident.

But seeing the members now, he felt that they were still nervous, excited, and looking forward to meeting the fans.

Lee Junhee pretended to read the script, but in fact, the words no longer registered in his mind.

At 1 PM, just before the music was released, the members, who had finished all the preparations, took a deep breath and checked their phones.

Then, they smiled, put their phones down, and headed to the stage.

Even before the performance started, some fans were already crying. Yoo Chanhee, who was also a crybaby and particularly good at remembering fans' faces, was already in tears just from seeing the faces of the fans who had waited for five years.

“It’s been too long. I’m really sorry.”

Not just Yoo Chanhee, but the other members were also tearing up. Fans were crying, and the members were crying. Lee Junhee scolded them.

“Is this a farewell stage? We’re going to continue, so stop crying.”

“The junior has grown so much...”

Choi Jungmin muttered and gathered the members.

“Let’s greet the Skippers and the staff after so long.”

“Wow, it’s been years since we greeted them.”

After Park Minha said that, Choi Jungmin led the team’s greeting for the first time in five years.

The timing of their greeting was so precise, it was hard to believe they hadn’t practiced together in five years. The performance began.

[I won’t say ‘wait’ anymore.]

[We’ll leave the harbor and sail to the distant sea.]

[I no longer believe we’ll meet someday.]

[Even if it rains or the snow piles up to our ankles.]

[Now, holding your hand.]

[I believe in you and will set sail.]

[Let’s go to the sea (let’s go).]

[Even if we become strangers in a foreign place.]

[With you, holding your hand,]

[We can go anywhere.]

They had gathered solely for the fans and sang a song for the fans. The members of Big Blue and the fans, who hadn’t seen each other in five years, enjoyed this moment like old friends meeting again.

To the members of Big Blue, the music chart rankings weren’t that important. The most important thing was the fact that they were reuniting with their fans.

* * *

The most important thing to me is the music chart ranking.

Of course. While the artists themselves might have various metrics, the most important thing for me as a composer is the music chart ranking.

But on the day of the music release, I was too nervous to check the rankings myself, so I was listening to music unrelated to idols in my studio.

Movie soundtracks.

Starting to compose, I realized that scoring for movies is a completely different genre from popular music, from start to finish.

That’s why, even now that music has become my profession, watching movies and listening to movie soundtracks still feels like a hobby to me.

On a day like this, a drink might have helped ease the tension, but the doctor said that drinking with anxiety disorder is like pouring oil on a fire, so I couldn’t even have that one drink.

So, all I could do was close my eyes, listen to movie soundtracks, and rest.

While I was listening to music with my eyes closed, I heard a knock on the studio door. I turned my chair around and saw a TRV staff member.

I wondered if they had come to talk about the music release, but they had only come to deliver a magazine with the photoshoot I did. Of course, it wasn’t just that...

I opened the magazine briefly but closed it again, feeling too embarrassed. I’ll look at it when I have more peace of mind.

I pushed the magazine aside and continued listening to music when I heard another knock on the door.

“I received the magazine.”

Thinking it was the staff member, I answered and picked up the magazine, but outside the glass window on the door, I saw Shin Jiwoon and Ahn Joo-won. I wondered why they were standing there when everyone could enter with fingerprint recognition, but as I watched, they talked and Ahn Joo-won wrote something on a piece of paper and stuck it to the glass.

‘Real-time 1st place’

“...Wow.”

It was possible to enter the real-time chart at 1st place.

It felt so unreal, something we had never imagined. Of course, it’s Big Blue, so it makes sense.

Still, what time is it now? I looked at the clock, and it was already past 12 PM.

“When did it get so late?”

As I muttered, I heard another knock on the door. Why don’t they just come in and tell me? I thought, but they had stuck another piece of paper on the door.

I froze.

‘Top 100 1st place’

I can’t believe I was thinking about having a drink just a moment ago. I almost felt this moment while drunk.

The pure joy spread through me, reaching even the tips of my fingers.